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The Ghost Manuscript
Rare-book authenticator Carys Jones wanted nothing more than to be left alone to pursue her obsession with ancient manuscripts. But when her biggest client is committed to an asylum, he gives Carys an offer she cannot refuse. In exchange for his entire library of priceless, Dark Age manuscripts, Carys must track the clues hidden in a previously unknown journal, clues that lead to a tomb that could rewrite the history of Western civilization.
But there are people who would do anything to stop Carys from finding what she seeks—for reasons both noble and evil. The hunt takes Carys to places she never thought she’d go, physically and emotionally; first to Wales, her estranged father’s homeland, then to bed with Dafydd, a mysterious Welshman who agrees to help her with the search, and finally, deep inside her own psyche, when the monk who wrote the journal 1,500 years ago appears and assists her in her search.
But there are people who would do anything to stop Carys from finding what she seeks—for reasons both noble and evil. The hunt takes Carys to places she never thought she’d go, physically and emotionally; first to Wales, her estranged father’s homeland, then to bed with Dafydd, a mysterious Welshman who agrees to help her with the search, and finally, deep inside her own psyche, when the monk who wrote the journal 1,500 years ago appears and assists her in her search.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
99 people are currently reading
828 people want to read
About the author
Kris Frieswick
6 books18 followersAuthor, journalist, editor, humorist, cyclist, traveler
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
April 13, 2019
Carys is a rare book authenticator in Boston, who is called by the son of a regular client of hers. His father is very ill, and the son wants her to catalogue his collection of rare manuscripts and prepare them for sale. But his father isn't dead yet! He tells Carys about a manuscript he has found, supposedly written by a sixth century monk, and leading to what would be the find of the century if it unveils the location of a hidden tomb. So Carys goes off on the trail of the tomb, with the help of her estranged father and a hot dive instructor. Will she find it before the old man dies? Is it there to find anyway? And just whose tomb is it? As Carys follows the clues to Wales, she finds she's not the only one searching for the tomb, and others are willing to use deadly force to get there first.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand it was a fun adventure, racing around one step ahead of the bad guys looking for the tomb. Yet on the other the plot was quite flimsy, with some massive flaws in it, which screams of amateur research. I did enjoy it, but I can only give it 3 stars because of the irritating plot defects.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand it was a fun adventure, racing around one step ahead of the bad guys looking for the tomb. Yet on the other the plot was quite flimsy, with some massive flaws in it, which screams of amateur research. I did enjoy it, but I can only give it 3 stars because of the irritating plot defects.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2024
The Ghost Manuscript by Kris Frieswick is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. I really enjoyed the first half of this book. It had good action, suspense, mystery but then it went side ways. The author decided to kill off not one main character but all of the main characters except the lead. I expected her to go at any time! Quite upsetting last half. Everything the the book lead up to was knocked down! Too bad, it started out so good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2019
OH BOY am I angry. This was a perfectly good book until it went somewhere I dare say it had absolutely NO right to go. It's NOT ALRIGHT to go in the direction of Just no. You just DON'T go there.
The book executes the historical mystery formula well, but some things are just NOT OKAY. If I was Native American, I'd probably be so angry I'd buy it and then burn it. Or better yet, pirate it, print it and THEN burn it (cause why would I pay to be disrespected?) Would still not match the disrespect of the author to these cultures.
God.
To think I spent two days on the book to only find out about this "twist" at the very end. What a waste.
Now I'll be angry all night. I'm not even American.
I received this book for free on NetGalley in exchange to my honest opinion.
The book executes the historical mystery formula well, but some things are just NOT OKAY. If I was Native American, I'd probably be so angry I'd buy it and then burn it. Or better yet, pirate it, print it and THEN burn it (cause why would I pay to be disrespected?) Would still not match the disrespect of the author to these cultures.
God.
To think I spent two days on the book to only find out about this "twist" at the very end. What a waste.
Now I'll be angry all night. I'm not even American.
I received this book for free on NetGalley in exchange to my honest opinion.
December 23, 2023
Well, that was an annoying waste of time. I picked this to read the other day thinking that it would be a nice change of pace. Something simple and entertaining, nothing more than that.
I hadn't counted on it actually being bad. The writing was unexceptional, but it was the plotting, and ultimately the overall premise, that was bizarre. If you are interested in what I mean by that, continue with the spoilers below.
Clearly I was not the right reader for this book. I will look for something else entertaining to finish out the year. Maybe something by an author I already know and appreciate.
I hadn't counted on it actually being bad. The writing was unexceptional, but it was the plotting, and ultimately the overall premise, that was bizarre. If you are interested in what I mean by that, continue with the spoilers below.
Clearly I was not the right reader for this book. I will look for something else entertaining to finish out the year. Maybe something by an author I already know and appreciate.
February 3, 2019
Whatever you do, never ever stick your nose in an old book to sniff up the smell of paper ever again. You hear me? Keep out! Or weird stuff will happen!
While appointed by her auction house to appraise a collection of books from the Dark Ages, Carys' expertise is requested by the owner to research a specific journal from the year 550. This work by a monk who travelled with King Arthur presumably holds the key to Arthur's tomb and the treasures buried with him.
Carys makes herself at home and pretty soon does what all of us love doing: she inhales the smell of the book. And so the adventure begins.
The story takes the reader on a modern day treasure hunt through Saxon times. Fast paced and exciting, with intense characters good and bad, through darkness and in light. From being hunted in American cityscapes to being the hunter in Welsh countryside. So many moments of holding my breath, so many breathtaking moments.
I enjoyed the poems in the journal and dreamt Carys' dreams. The quirky monk is an adorable guide.
Will they find what they're looking for?
At full speed we are treated to an unexpected twist, before the story enters its magical finale.
What a gem!
Thank you Netgalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC
While appointed by her auction house to appraise a collection of books from the Dark Ages, Carys' expertise is requested by the owner to research a specific journal from the year 550. This work by a monk who travelled with King Arthur presumably holds the key to Arthur's tomb and the treasures buried with him.
Carys makes herself at home and pretty soon does what all of us love doing: she inhales the smell of the book. And so the adventure begins.
The story takes the reader on a modern day treasure hunt through Saxon times. Fast paced and exciting, with intense characters good and bad, through darkness and in light. From being hunted in American cityscapes to being the hunter in Welsh countryside. So many moments of holding my breath, so many breathtaking moments.
I enjoyed the poems in the journal and dreamt Carys' dreams. The quirky monk is an adorable guide.
Will they find what they're looking for?
At full speed we are treated to an unexpected twist, before the story enters its magical finale.
What a gem!
Thank you Netgalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC
March 21, 2025
I decided to listen to the audio version of this book and I found the beginning of the book to be very promising. However, somewhere along the way, I found myself getting more and more bored with the story. Also, I found myself not really caring for the Carys. I think the major problem for me was that I felt just like Carys did when she found out that her client's obsession was all about King Arthur. And, after that, unlike Carys did I not find myself taken with the hunt for the tomb of Arthur. The pacing got slower and slower, and the bad guy's hunt for the document felt like a rehash of so many other books I read. Powerful men that also want the treasure. I just didn't care anymore. When the obvious love interest for Carys steps into the scene did I bid goodbye to the book.
I love hunt for treasure books, with secret documents and wild hunts like in Dan Brown's books. This book just didn't rock my boat. I think the main problem was just the fact that I did not find the book enjoyable, the characters were a bit too plat and everything was too predictable.
I love hunt for treasure books, with secret documents and wild hunts like in Dan Brown's books. This book just didn't rock my boat. I think the main problem was just the fact that I did not find the book enjoyable, the characters were a bit too plat and everything was too predictable.
April 11, 2019
Many thanks to NetGalley, Post Hill Press and Kris Frieswick for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
An ancient manuscript that hold the secrets to King Arthur’s tomb? A ghost of the monk who fought by King Arthur’s side and laid him to rest, leading you to a secret location? A monk who appears because you are sniffing the ancient manuscript and it contains spores that bring on hallucinations? How about a handsome, sexy man to help you on your quest. Get ready for an rousing read that takes you on the adventure to find the tomb of King Arthur. This story reminded me of a mash-up between The DaVinci Code and an Indiana Jones type story. You have clues from an ancient manuscript, the promise of ancient artifacts, the race to get there while being chased by bad guys while you decipher the clues to find the treasure. There’s lots of globe hopping, suspense and drama with a little romance in the mix. It is highly entertaining with characters who come to life off the page.
Carys works for an esteemed auction house and is tasked with cataloguing a client’s library. Many of the items in the library were ones she had sourced out herself. But when the old man himself tells her of this secret manuscript that leads to the tomb of King Arthur, Carys can’t help but get caught up in the solving the mystery. She isn’t the only one on the hunt, someone is trying to kill her. The clues lead her to her home country, Wales, where she enlists the help of a handsome local, Dafyyd. Oh, and get this, she loves to sniff the old manuscript, which gives her a sort of high and she begins to see a dead monk, who speaks to her in old Latin and helps lead her from clue to clue. The journey is exciting, the action drives the story at a fast pace but it is the relationships between the characters that give the story depth and keeps you invested in what happens.
I really enjoyed this read. There were so many different elements that could have been overwhelming or too scattered but somehow Frieswick managed to keep it cohesive and make it all work. The characters were well drawn and had interesting back stories that had me rooting for them. The romance fit very well within the storyline and spiced things up just enough. I loved reading about Wales and found the land very captivating. The whodunit part had a nice twist at the end. My only uncomfortable part was when it went back to the States and dealt with Native Americans. You’ll understand what I mean when you get to that part. Overall a good solid read.
An ancient manuscript that hold the secrets to King Arthur’s tomb? A ghost of the monk who fought by King Arthur’s side and laid him to rest, leading you to a secret location? A monk who appears because you are sniffing the ancient manuscript and it contains spores that bring on hallucinations? How about a handsome, sexy man to help you on your quest. Get ready for an rousing read that takes you on the adventure to find the tomb of King Arthur. This story reminded me of a mash-up between The DaVinci Code and an Indiana Jones type story. You have clues from an ancient manuscript, the promise of ancient artifacts, the race to get there while being chased by bad guys while you decipher the clues to find the treasure. There’s lots of globe hopping, suspense and drama with a little romance in the mix. It is highly entertaining with characters who come to life off the page.
Carys works for an esteemed auction house and is tasked with cataloguing a client’s library. Many of the items in the library were ones she had sourced out herself. But when the old man himself tells her of this secret manuscript that leads to the tomb of King Arthur, Carys can’t help but get caught up in the solving the mystery. She isn’t the only one on the hunt, someone is trying to kill her. The clues lead her to her home country, Wales, where she enlists the help of a handsome local, Dafyyd. Oh, and get this, she loves to sniff the old manuscript, which gives her a sort of high and she begins to see a dead monk, who speaks to her in old Latin and helps lead her from clue to clue. The journey is exciting, the action drives the story at a fast pace but it is the relationships between the characters that give the story depth and keeps you invested in what happens.
I really enjoyed this read. There were so many different elements that could have been overwhelming or too scattered but somehow Frieswick managed to keep it cohesive and make it all work. The characters were well drawn and had interesting back stories that had me rooting for them. The romance fit very well within the storyline and spiced things up just enough. I loved reading about Wales and found the land very captivating. The whodunit part had a nice twist at the end. My only uncomfortable part was when it went back to the States and dealt with Native Americans. You’ll understand what I mean when you get to that part. Overall a good solid read.
July 11, 2019
The Ghost Manuscript was a thoroughly enjoyable adventure with elements of history, archaeology, ancient manuscripts, and a ghost. Unusually our protagonist is a woman, a rare book authenticator, Carys Jones. Sent to catalog a rare dark age manuscript collection she is tasked to solve a riddle from an ancient monk's journal that could answer a question that the Western civilization has long sought. In true adventure story style, they are evil-doers bent on stopping Carys from succeeding in her quest. Along the way, she reconnects with her estranged father and digs deep inside her own mind to find the answer for which she searches. This is an adventure that rollicks along and doesn't lag yet still has an interesting back story to keep the mind engaged.
Read
February 14, 2019DNF. Lost me at King Arthur. May pick it up again later. Maybe. Oh, hell who am I kidding. Probably not.
December 26, 2018
This book had all the right ingredients, but then again it was also by an unknown author and from an unknown publisher, but then again…ghosts and manuscripts, yes please. Plus it was very much a bibliomystery and I love those. Still, don’t think I was prepared for how much I liked it. It was like a grand adventure, the sort of treasure hunting adventure I normally expect and don’t especially enjoy from the likes of Clive Cussler, but pleasantly testosterone free, actually well written and smart. This book features an intrepid, emotionally unavailable book expert who gets involved in deciphering an ancient manuscript that can potentially lead to one of the greatest historical discoveries of all time. Needless to say she and the man who hired her aren’t the only ones after it, soon it gets messy, even deadly, but it’s just too irresistible of a quest to walk away from. And so this bicoastal adventure goes, discoveries, dangers and daring dos. It is all genuinely very exciting. And yes, there is an actual ghost, a very obliging and supportive kind, albeit there turns out to be a perfectly rational explanation for him, so this book can’t be chalked up to some sort of supernatural mystery. There is a mystery here, several in fact, including a very nice surprising plot twist in the end, but it’s all of a very regular, albeit extraordinarily exhilarating sort. Definitely the best take on the King Arthur legend I’ve read, a very original and interesting theory. Plus great descriptions, charismatic multilayered characters and oodles of thrills. The only thing that threw me was the body count, somehow I wasn’t prepared for how high the author would take that, didn’t quite seem like that kind of a book. But at any rate, it was a very exciting, fun and enjoyable read. Recommended for all fans of great stories and grand armchair adventures. Thanks Netgalley.
April 27, 2019
Hard to say why this didn't work for me. I like the narrator--Carrington McDuffie--but accents were weak and Bostonian and Welsh should have been prominent. Also I was frequently annoyed by the author's habit of using nominative case after prepositions; I might have been able to ignore it had I been reading, but hearing the error, time after time, made it more obvious. Still, an interesting tale about rare manuscripts, Arthurian legends, and treasure hunting. There are Gothic elements--a ancient robed priest who appears to our heroine--and a little romance and certainly suspense and danger and death. It moves at a fast pace; interesting characters, good and bad, but perhaps too many and stereotypical; convoluted story line with several threads that come together, but it could have been edited as it drags a bit; atmospheric, dangerous, dramatic tone. Interesting Arthurian lore.
November 23, 2025
In general I found the concept of Frieswick’s novel engaging, a middle-aged female protagonist, Carys, specializing in rare manuscripts gets pulled into the hunt for King Arthur’s tomb. It felt very National Treasure coded. However, the last act while an interesting twist seems to suggest a slightly problematic rewrite of history. Understanding that the book is fiction and you have to suspend your belief a little bit, I feel like this book could have been finished in two acts and still been very satisfying.
May 8, 2019
Man oh man, I was so dubious going into this. I am a History buff and love anything to do with King Arthur and the legend surrounding him. I do love the paranormal but in the right context. I did read some reviews and DNF's so was prepared for the worst...
I was blown away by this book and I ended up trying to read slower to make it last longer. Any book lover will know what I mean.
Carys Jones is an expert rare book/manuscript authenticator who is reluctantly (at first) drawn into her firms biggest clients obsessive search for the real King Arthur's tomb and the treasure it holds. She is just one step ahead of others who would not hesitate to kill to take what she is searching for.
As I said, I was prepared for the worst when I started reading this and was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book.
I like accurate details and I took a break from time to time to research some things in the book from types of clothing and mold spores to types of flowers. Needless to say, I was impressed by the author's dedication and preparation.
Some might be disconcerted by a possible paranormal theme in the book but rest assured that there might just be a logical explanation so don't let that dissuade you from picking up the book. Also, I understand it might be possible for some to be offended as to where the novel leads but at the same time, it is no different than Roanoke theories and the author did not mention a specific tribe. I don't usually give spoilers but I felt it was important here.
I was not keen on Carys but then again at the end of the novel, I got a distinct impression that there might be a book two someday (please say there is). Her character was opening up and it seemed like there was a bit of a cliff hanger.
I think this is going to be one of those books you either love or hate. I loved it because of the subject matter and the matter of fact details. I am really hoping this is a series that will continue in a book two...
I was blown away by this book and I ended up trying to read slower to make it last longer. Any book lover will know what I mean.
Carys Jones is an expert rare book/manuscript authenticator who is reluctantly (at first) drawn into her firms biggest clients obsessive search for the real King Arthur's tomb and the treasure it holds. She is just one step ahead of others who would not hesitate to kill to take what she is searching for.
As I said, I was prepared for the worst when I started reading this and was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book.
I like accurate details and I took a break from time to time to research some things in the book from types of clothing and mold spores to types of flowers. Needless to say, I was impressed by the author's dedication and preparation.
Some might be disconcerted by a possible paranormal theme in the book but rest assured that there might just be a logical explanation so don't let that dissuade you from picking up the book. Also, I understand it might be possible for some to be offended as to where the novel leads but at the same time, it is no different than Roanoke theories and the author did not mention a specific tribe. I don't usually give spoilers but I felt it was important here.
I was not keen on Carys but then again at the end of the novel, I got a distinct impression that there might be a book two someday (please say there is). Her character was opening up and it seemed like there was a bit of a cliff hanger.
I think this is going to be one of those books you either love or hate. I loved it because of the subject matter and the matter of fact details. I am really hoping this is a series that will continue in a book two...
March 21, 2022
I only began reading the book because the author writes a biweekly column for The Wall Street Journal which I really enjoy. However, I had to suspend my disbelief too much to get into the plot, and the quoted passages from the manuscripts just bored me. I also did not find the protagonist interesting or likeable.
September 2, 2019
What an unrewarding ending. All that buildup and then...blah. Not enough resolution. Lots of improbabilities. The most disappointing for me was the reader - she read flawlessly, it wasn't that. Her voice iss what put me off, it was too old and mannish, not suited for the character. And of all the Bostonians depicted in the story, she only gave one a (BAD!!!) New England accent. The two men from Wales had not even the slightest Welsh accent. I've heard so many readers that can pull off accents,, whoever chose this reader didn't choose the right one, not even close. That can make or break storytelling, and it certainly didn't make it for me. So many thwarted possibilities,, what a bummer.
February 17, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the first part of the book - Carys felt like a reluctant Indiana Jones, and the action was exciting and non-stop.
However, at the point in the story where the characters return to Boston, the whole thing began to feel a bit drawn out. There was too much going on, too many people introduced and the big reveal of the bad guy wasn't a surprise at all. The ending wasn't really an ending and seemed flat and hurried - and I'm so disappointed with how the big love story ended.
Three stars but all based on the enjoyment of the first part.
I really enjoyed the first part of the book - Carys felt like a reluctant Indiana Jones, and the action was exciting and non-stop.
However, at the point in the story where the characters return to Boston, the whole thing began to feel a bit drawn out. There was too much going on, too many people introduced and the big reveal of the bad guy wasn't a surprise at all. The ending wasn't really an ending and seemed flat and hurried - and I'm so disappointed with how the big love story ended.
Three stars but all based on the enjoyment of the first part.
November 19, 2018
4 stars
I read the Kindle edition.
Carys Jones is a rare book authenticator who is happiest when immersed in manuscripts and books from the earliest centuries of Great Britain. She gets a request from a wealthy man’s son to examine and value his Dark Ages books and manuscripts for sale at auction.
While perusing his fabulous and extensive library, Carys comes across a journal she has never seen before. It is written in Latin and very early Welsh by a monk. It is the first hand account of something totally unbelievable. If this manuscript can be authenticated, it will change English history as we know it. The owner of the library offers Carys his vast and priceless collection if she will just pursue the information in the journal and prove it to be the truth.
But all is not well. Unknown to Carys, there are some English gangsters who want the monk’s manuscript. They are willing to kill to get their hands on it. And they aren’t the only ones. In a twisty turn of events, Carys finds herself in more danger. She then finds out the surprising truth behind the whole story. Will she get out of this latest fix?
This is a very well written and plotted novel. I liked Carys and can fully understand her love of old books and manuscripts for I love them too. There are too many books and too little time to read everything I still want to read. Darn it! This is my first Kris Frieswick novel, but it won’t be my last. I immediately went to Amazon to look for more of this author’s books.
I want to thank NetGalley and Post Hill Press for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.
I read the Kindle edition.
Carys Jones is a rare book authenticator who is happiest when immersed in manuscripts and books from the earliest centuries of Great Britain. She gets a request from a wealthy man’s son to examine and value his Dark Ages books and manuscripts for sale at auction.
While perusing his fabulous and extensive library, Carys comes across a journal she has never seen before. It is written in Latin and very early Welsh by a monk. It is the first hand account of something totally unbelievable. If this manuscript can be authenticated, it will change English history as we know it. The owner of the library offers Carys his vast and priceless collection if she will just pursue the information in the journal and prove it to be the truth.
But all is not well. Unknown to Carys, there are some English gangsters who want the monk’s manuscript. They are willing to kill to get their hands on it. And they aren’t the only ones. In a twisty turn of events, Carys finds herself in more danger. She then finds out the surprising truth behind the whole story. Will she get out of this latest fix?
This is a very well written and plotted novel. I liked Carys and can fully understand her love of old books and manuscripts for I love them too. There are too many books and too little time to read everything I still want to read. Darn it! This is my first Kris Frieswick novel, but it won’t be my last. I immediately went to Amazon to look for more of this author’s books.
I want to thank NetGalley and Post Hill Press for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.
February 18, 2019
I found this book more intriguing than interesting and that kept me going through this book. There were certain times when I felt the book to be confusing but it was never not entertaining. Overall I enjoyed it and will look forward to another book by Kris Frieswick. A big thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
April 2, 2019
A fast paced story that I found hard to put down. It kept me guessing to the end. I’ve been a huge King Arthur fan forever and found this very intriguing! Loved it!! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!
January 29, 2021
Absolutely loved this book! Perfect blend of mystery, history and books!
April 29, 2022
My first 2 star rating Bean! I thought you would be proud ☺️
March 10, 2019
Carys Jones is an expert on medieval manuscripts. She works for an auction house authenticating texts. When the son of one of her biggest clients tells her that his father has been committed to a psychiatric hospital and that he is planning to liquidate the collection, Carys is called in to authenticate the texts and check the catalog.
Carys meets the housekeeper who tells her that there is one manuscript not in the catalog. It's a journal of a monk who wrote of his employer who was a battle chief fighting the Anglo-Saxon invasion. That's when Carys learns that her employer is just another Arthur chaser and she loses respect for him. That is, she does until she does until she reads the diary herself and starts having hallucinations where the author Lestinus gives her clues that may lead to the grave of Riothamus Arcturus who would become the legendary King Arthur.
But Carys isn't the only one on the track of Arthur and the massive fortune including Excalibur that was buried with him. Her boss George Plourde has his own scam going - blackmailing clients to part with items that will yield him massive commissions. He is also working with an antiquities dealer named Martin Gyles who has his own scam going but has gotten himself in trouble with jihadists and needs the tomb to get himself out of it.
Carys is an interesting person who considers herself broken. She has major abandonment issues. Her father left her family when she was seven. Her mother committed suicide when she was fifteen and her father left her with family friends rather than taking her into his new family. Her relationships hit the wall at about three months because of her inability to share anything of herself but her body. The only constants in her life are the manuscripts that are part of her work.
As Carys travels to follow the clues Lestinus left, she travels to Wales where she meets a new guy and where she meets her father again. Both are instrumental in finding the tomb which has been emptied but for another journal, some seeds, and a small amount of ancient jewels. And the search continues with bad guys trailing behind.
The action was fast and furious. The villains were truly dastardly. The treasure hunt was intriguing. And the book ends on a cliffhanger...
Carys meets the housekeeper who tells her that there is one manuscript not in the catalog. It's a journal of a monk who wrote of his employer who was a battle chief fighting the Anglo-Saxon invasion. That's when Carys learns that her employer is just another Arthur chaser and she loses respect for him. That is, she does until she does until she reads the diary herself and starts having hallucinations where the author Lestinus gives her clues that may lead to the grave of Riothamus Arcturus who would become the legendary King Arthur.
But Carys isn't the only one on the track of Arthur and the massive fortune including Excalibur that was buried with him. Her boss George Plourde has his own scam going - blackmailing clients to part with items that will yield him massive commissions. He is also working with an antiquities dealer named Martin Gyles who has his own scam going but has gotten himself in trouble with jihadists and needs the tomb to get himself out of it.
Carys is an interesting person who considers herself broken. She has major abandonment issues. Her father left her family when she was seven. Her mother committed suicide when she was fifteen and her father left her with family friends rather than taking her into his new family. Her relationships hit the wall at about three months because of her inability to share anything of herself but her body. The only constants in her life are the manuscripts that are part of her work.
As Carys travels to follow the clues Lestinus left, she travels to Wales where she meets a new guy and where she meets her father again. Both are instrumental in finding the tomb which has been emptied but for another journal, some seeds, and a small amount of ancient jewels. And the search continues with bad guys trailing behind.
The action was fast and furious. The villains were truly dastardly. The treasure hunt was intriguing. And the book ends on a cliffhanger...
June 8, 2019
The Ghost Manuscript by Kris Frieswick
Source: NetGalley and Post Hill Press
Rating: 2½/5 stars
**MINI-REVIEW**
The Bottom Line: By the time I finished this book, a book I truly wanted to LOVE, I found myself somewhat angry and feeling as if I just read a book I have already read many times over by other authors. Make no mistake, I am not suggesting plagiarism or any nefarious issue, just a rehashing of a story line and theme that has already been done. At its core, this is the story of the hunt for King Arthur via clues, hints, history, and sleuthing. There is the requisite bad guy pulling all the strings in the background, the sexy intelligent hunter (Carys), the ultra-rich benefactor, the sexy male companion, and the expected pitfalls and dangers that come along with such searches. As if to reinforce my own feelings about the book, several characters throughout the read openly scoff and note how cliché the search for the legendary King Arthur is at this stage in history. While I was in no way impressed with the plot line, I didn’t dislike everything about this book. In fact, I liked Carys and her best friend, Annie quite a lot and would love to see those two feisty women in a very different story and/or setting. Additionally, there is nothing to complain about in terms of the technical aspects of this read. The author is clearly a competent and capable writer, she just needs a more original story to allow her skills to shine through and not dull her abilities and craft.
Source: NetGalley and Post Hill Press
Rating: 2½/5 stars
**MINI-REVIEW**
The Bottom Line: By the time I finished this book, a book I truly wanted to LOVE, I found myself somewhat angry and feeling as if I just read a book I have already read many times over by other authors. Make no mistake, I am not suggesting plagiarism or any nefarious issue, just a rehashing of a story line and theme that has already been done. At its core, this is the story of the hunt for King Arthur via clues, hints, history, and sleuthing. There is the requisite bad guy pulling all the strings in the background, the sexy intelligent hunter (Carys), the ultra-rich benefactor, the sexy male companion, and the expected pitfalls and dangers that come along with such searches. As if to reinforce my own feelings about the book, several characters throughout the read openly scoff and note how cliché the search for the legendary King Arthur is at this stage in history. While I was in no way impressed with the plot line, I didn’t dislike everything about this book. In fact, I liked Carys and her best friend, Annie quite a lot and would love to see those two feisty women in a very different story and/or setting. Additionally, there is nothing to complain about in terms of the technical aspects of this read. The author is clearly a competent and capable writer, she just needs a more original story to allow her skills to shine through and not dull her abilities and craft.
June 6, 2019
In an undersea cave off the coast of Wales, a vast cavern of stone is uncovered by two divers. The stone cathedral looms 30 feet high, and in it is a carved-out area that obviously had been made by human hands. It is here that Carys Jones and her hired diving guide, Dafydd, sees the stone sarcophagus with an ancient cross etched into it. This is what they had been seeking, and the contents will provide some answers but mainly additional questions. Inside is a manuscript, written entirely in Latin and dating back to the sixth century, that provides clues as to what move the pair of divers need to make next.
This tense moment of discovery provides the prologue for Kris Frieswick’s debut novel. THE GHOST MANUSCRIPT is reminiscent of Indiana Jones, but also can be described as Steve Berry meets Dan Brown, and is a great trip back in time to the ancient legend of King Arthur. Carys is a Boston resident who works for Sothington's Auction House with a specialty in literature and ancient texts. When her boss, Mr. Plourde, calls her into his office one day, she can tell he is acting oddly. He gives her an assignment to make an assessment of the weighty library belonging to billionaire John Harper, with the intention to acquire and auction off the many priceless items he has.
Carys, whose unique name translates to “love” in Welsh, visits Harper’s home to make her appraisal of his collection. Harper himself has been residing in a rest home for the past several months, so his son JJ is representing him. His housekeeper, Nicola, introduces Carys to the library and is available for any questions. It does not take long for Carys to surmise that things are not as they appear. First off, Nicola is no housekeeper, but more a guardian of some specific ancient texts that she also is able to interpret. It is Nicola who introduces Carys to the hidden room behind some of the bookcases. Within that secret locale, which resembles a literary version of a panic room, she is shown the sixth-century manuscript that has long been off the grid.
The author of the manuscript was a monk by the name of Lestinus. When Carys finally meets with Harper, he reveals that Lestinus was actually King Arthur’s personal priest. Harper, who allegedly is still recovering from a psychotic break, confides in Carys that as he was first poring through this ancient manual, he was visited by Lestinus himself. This was not a ghost, but the actual man appearing at his side and conversing fully with him as he researched the manuscript further. Lestinus indicated that he was able to assist in discovering King Arthur's final resting place --- a location that had long been part of ancient fable and folklore while also being used as fodder for seekers of myth to continuously search for the treasures that may be contained within.
Carys becomes obsessed with this mission and blackmails her boss to allow her to work on her own to focus on the secrets held within the manuscript and put the sale of Harper's library collection on the backburner. It is at this point that Carys makes a full commitment spurred by a bizarre event: the appearance of Lestinus to her one night. Conversing in Latin, he urges her to make the trek to Wales as that is most likely where the body of King Arthur will be found. Wales has a lot of personal meaning for Carys, as she is half-Welsh and half-American, and her long-estranged father who she has not seen or spoken to in decades lived there as a college professor.
Things are not going to go too smoothly for Carys as, unbeknownst to her, she is being tracked by a British killer who is on the payroll of the mysterious Mr. Gyles --- the same man who had approached her boss about obtaining Harper's collection. The culprit, known only as Frank, kills Nicola during a break-in at Harper's residence in the U.S. It will not take him long to puzzle out the breadcrumbs left by Carys and take his deadly agenda overseas for a visit to Wales.
In Wales, Carys does indeed have the inevitable reunion with her father, Anthony, and also befriends Dafydd, who is not only a wealth of Welsh historical information but also a top-notch deep sea diver. They pinpoint the potential location of King Arthur to the caverns off the island of Bardsey. It is here where Frieswick loops the story back into the events of the prologue and deftly uses them to springboard into further world-hopping treasure hunts, and the expected degree of danger and shady characters that often follow in these kinds of stories.
When the small team does locate what looks to be King Arthur's burial spot, they are disappointed to find no body but only more artifacts. The additional manuscript found in the place of King Arthur's body appears to have been written by his own son --- Madoc Morfran --- and, once interpreted, looks to be pointing to a completely different location, on another continent, that will indeed house his father's remains. Carys, with occasional guidance from Lestinus and the aid of Harper and Dafydd, takes her road show to an area within Cape Cod that may be the place they all sought. Of course, this too comes with a snag as it is on ancient Native American property and may actually play an interesting role in the history of these indigenous people.
THE GHOST MANUSCRIPT follows all the guidelines that make historical fiction and the hunt for ancient artifacts so interesting and hugely entertaining for the reader. If there is one area where I would have liked to have seen something different, it would have been in the use of Lestinus. Whenever he is present and conversing with Carys, the story zings with life and excitement. His presence is a bit underplayed in the finale, but he does make an enormously important appearance that begins with him imploring to Carys: “Suscitate viveque!” I'll leave my fellow readers to sort that one out and highly recommend you spend some time with the resourceful Carys Jones.
If the cliffhanger ending is any indication of additional stories, I think we may very well be enjoying further quality time with the “female Indiana Jones” in the near future.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
This tense moment of discovery provides the prologue for Kris Frieswick’s debut novel. THE GHOST MANUSCRIPT is reminiscent of Indiana Jones, but also can be described as Steve Berry meets Dan Brown, and is a great trip back in time to the ancient legend of King Arthur. Carys is a Boston resident who works for Sothington's Auction House with a specialty in literature and ancient texts. When her boss, Mr. Plourde, calls her into his office one day, she can tell he is acting oddly. He gives her an assignment to make an assessment of the weighty library belonging to billionaire John Harper, with the intention to acquire and auction off the many priceless items he has.
Carys, whose unique name translates to “love” in Welsh, visits Harper’s home to make her appraisal of his collection. Harper himself has been residing in a rest home for the past several months, so his son JJ is representing him. His housekeeper, Nicola, introduces Carys to the library and is available for any questions. It does not take long for Carys to surmise that things are not as they appear. First off, Nicola is no housekeeper, but more a guardian of some specific ancient texts that she also is able to interpret. It is Nicola who introduces Carys to the hidden room behind some of the bookcases. Within that secret locale, which resembles a literary version of a panic room, she is shown the sixth-century manuscript that has long been off the grid.
The author of the manuscript was a monk by the name of Lestinus. When Carys finally meets with Harper, he reveals that Lestinus was actually King Arthur’s personal priest. Harper, who allegedly is still recovering from a psychotic break, confides in Carys that as he was first poring through this ancient manual, he was visited by Lestinus himself. This was not a ghost, but the actual man appearing at his side and conversing fully with him as he researched the manuscript further. Lestinus indicated that he was able to assist in discovering King Arthur's final resting place --- a location that had long been part of ancient fable and folklore while also being used as fodder for seekers of myth to continuously search for the treasures that may be contained within.
Carys becomes obsessed with this mission and blackmails her boss to allow her to work on her own to focus on the secrets held within the manuscript and put the sale of Harper's library collection on the backburner. It is at this point that Carys makes a full commitment spurred by a bizarre event: the appearance of Lestinus to her one night. Conversing in Latin, he urges her to make the trek to Wales as that is most likely where the body of King Arthur will be found. Wales has a lot of personal meaning for Carys, as she is half-Welsh and half-American, and her long-estranged father who she has not seen or spoken to in decades lived there as a college professor.
Things are not going to go too smoothly for Carys as, unbeknownst to her, she is being tracked by a British killer who is on the payroll of the mysterious Mr. Gyles --- the same man who had approached her boss about obtaining Harper's collection. The culprit, known only as Frank, kills Nicola during a break-in at Harper's residence in the U.S. It will not take him long to puzzle out the breadcrumbs left by Carys and take his deadly agenda overseas for a visit to Wales.
In Wales, Carys does indeed have the inevitable reunion with her father, Anthony, and also befriends Dafydd, who is not only a wealth of Welsh historical information but also a top-notch deep sea diver. They pinpoint the potential location of King Arthur to the caverns off the island of Bardsey. It is here where Frieswick loops the story back into the events of the prologue and deftly uses them to springboard into further world-hopping treasure hunts, and the expected degree of danger and shady characters that often follow in these kinds of stories.
When the small team does locate what looks to be King Arthur's burial spot, they are disappointed to find no body but only more artifacts. The additional manuscript found in the place of King Arthur's body appears to have been written by his own son --- Madoc Morfran --- and, once interpreted, looks to be pointing to a completely different location, on another continent, that will indeed house his father's remains. Carys, with occasional guidance from Lestinus and the aid of Harper and Dafydd, takes her road show to an area within Cape Cod that may be the place they all sought. Of course, this too comes with a snag as it is on ancient Native American property and may actually play an interesting role in the history of these indigenous people.
THE GHOST MANUSCRIPT follows all the guidelines that make historical fiction and the hunt for ancient artifacts so interesting and hugely entertaining for the reader. If there is one area where I would have liked to have seen something different, it would have been in the use of Lestinus. Whenever he is present and conversing with Carys, the story zings with life and excitement. His presence is a bit underplayed in the finale, but he does make an enormously important appearance that begins with him imploring to Carys: “Suscitate viveque!” I'll leave my fellow readers to sort that one out and highly recommend you spend some time with the resourceful Carys Jones.
If the cliffhanger ending is any indication of additional stories, I think we may very well be enjoying further quality time with the “female Indiana Jones” in the near future.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
May 30, 2019
What a thrilling adventure... am only 1/3 down the book but couldn't wait till i finished to post my review...
I was given an ARC and I can't believe I waited this long to read it....
The story revolves around carys Jones who spent her childhood buried between books and her adulthood working on discovering and authenticating them... one day she comes across a manuscript that might finally prove the existence of the legendary King Arthur, and a then the thrilling hunt starts to find his tomb...
Filled with chasing down history all the way from the Boston to the Wales, carys embarks on one's biggest adventure to locate and bring to live a legend that has for many centuries tickled the imagination of many poets, authors, historians and adventurers.
If you are a fan of history, arthurian legends and adventure you will love this book.
I was given an ARC and I can't believe I waited this long to read it....
The story revolves around carys Jones who spent her childhood buried between books and her adulthood working on discovering and authenticating them... one day she comes across a manuscript that might finally prove the existence of the legendary King Arthur, and a then the thrilling hunt starts to find his tomb...
Filled with chasing down history all the way from the Boston to the Wales, carys embarks on one's biggest adventure to locate and bring to live a legend that has for many centuries tickled the imagination of many poets, authors, historians and adventurers.
If you are a fan of history, arthurian legends and adventure you will love this book.
December 16, 2020
Wow. That was one seriously lousy ending to a seriously disjointed book.
Other issues: It's the 21st century. Let's skip the insulting references to cultural profiling, as well as the derogatory snark referring to hippies and pagans. And for future reference to the author, people in the U.K. don't say cell phone...they say mobile phone.
I was actually pretty engaged in this book for the first half or more of the story, even though it seemed to zigzag quite a bit...it was a glaring hybrid of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, and Dan Brown, so it started as a smart and savvy adventure story. But the appeal of those influential stories, unlike this one, is that those writers know how to effectively write and wrap a book/movie with SOME redemption, and don't either kill off nearly every lead character, or turn them into a bad guy. I expected a plot twist at the end...frankly, the whole adventure was all a little too easy, and needed to go somewhere unexpected. But the twist we are given is not only unsatisfying, but downright trite. Seriously? Daddy didn't love you enough, so you became a sociopathic supervillain? Okay. Seems like a good therapist could have helped stop this before it even started. The family certainly had the money.
There is also little to no redemption for Carys...she gets thrown into this white-knuckle search for King Arthur's tomb, and even though she's never cared a whit about King Arthur, she flies into it with reckless abandon, putting everyone she cares about in mortal peril. And nearly everyone who helps her on this hapless quest dies. The hit man had more concern for the victims of this fruitless hunt than she did...she seems to get the news of another devastating death, mopes for a minute or two, then starts focusing her attention elsewhere. She does have a tearful reconciliation with the father who abandoned her as a child, but even that feels hollow, as once she's used up his role in her search, she merely tosses a wave over her shoulder and hops a plane back to the states. Carys' character doesn't develop in the slightest, and everything good that starts to happen to her gets taken away...Dad lives on another continent. New boyfriend is killed. Nicola? Killed. Benefactor? Killed. Boss? Scumbag, but...yep. Killed, along with his wife and children. Ghost monk who guides her quest? Hallucination, and also dead for 1500 years. AND she ultimately loses the manuscripts and treasure to the villain, and in the process, throws a Native American tribe into full-on panic because their entire history and legal protections are now at risk. Nice going, Carys.
Next issue...the romance between Carys and Dafyyd is unsatisfying in so many ways. The romance was a given...you could see that coming miles away. But it was over the top, and I really could have done without all the cheesy sex talk (how many times did ya "do it" with him last night, Carys? I lost count.)...it felt contrived and out of context with the general story. The romance was fine, but could definitely have been handled more tastefully, and less like a Harlequin romance. This book was so formulaic in so many ways, so of COURSE the smart, sexy but emotionally unavailable treasure hunter had to fall for the gorgeous Welsh dive master, right? But it ultimately served no real purpose, especially considering Dafyyd's senseless fate.
And what of the ghost monk?? The book jacket description alludes to a paranormal "guide" to the final resting place of King Arthur, which sounded promising, but alas, there WAS no ghost...just a spore-induced hallucination. Or was he? We never really find out. Oh, and btw, Carys...we know you wanna find KA's tomb, but if you keep breathing in those ancient hallucinogenic spores, your head will really hurt, your guts will fall out, and your kidneys will explode, so maybe don't do that. Okay...sure, whatever.
And why exactly did the Native Americans get involved in the story? It just seemed to take the whole epic scenario in a completely weird, unrelated, and unnecessary direction. And to suggest that white European blood has been "tainting" pure Native American blood, and that they've been going to extreme lengths to hide it, because if anyone finds out they'll lose all their credibility, government protection and aid? That's deeply insulting, culturally insensitive, and REALLY didn't need to be added to this book. At all.
This book was disjointed in so many ways, and annoyingly predictable in others. It just couldn't stick to one trajectory, and seemed to go everywhere at once...health issues that come and go, a boyfriend that shows up at the beginning for no reason (other than to show by example that Carys is a bitch when it comes to her lovers), and is promptly and unceremoniously dumped, a housekeeper who...no, wait...translator of ancient languages who...uh, no, wait...LOVER of the rich benefactor who is barely introduced and then murdered...a hitman questioning his life choices...something about rich Middle Eastern businessmen and assassins pulling Gyles' puppet strings (another unnecessary cultural stereotype)...it just all seems like someone put every suspense novel plot line and red herring into a blender and spat out this book. Add to that the done-to-death flimsy premise of searching for the grave of a mythical figure, and it all just won't hold together.
Everywhere I wanted the story to go, it seemed to make every possible effort NOT to go there. The plot elements fit the formula for this sort of "fast-paced, treasure hunter-turned-unwitting adventurer" type of book, but there were just too many side lines and plot holes, and it just never seemed to get anywhere to any satisfying conclusion. The ending seemed to be setting up for a sequel, and to those who loved this book, you go have fun. I'll be reading something else.
Other issues: It's the 21st century. Let's skip the insulting references to cultural profiling, as well as the derogatory snark referring to hippies and pagans. And for future reference to the author, people in the U.K. don't say cell phone...they say mobile phone.
I was actually pretty engaged in this book for the first half or more of the story, even though it seemed to zigzag quite a bit...it was a glaring hybrid of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, and Dan Brown, so it started as a smart and savvy adventure story. But the appeal of those influential stories, unlike this one, is that those writers know how to effectively write and wrap a book/movie with SOME redemption, and don't either kill off nearly every lead character, or turn them into a bad guy. I expected a plot twist at the end...frankly, the whole adventure was all a little too easy, and needed to go somewhere unexpected. But the twist we are given is not only unsatisfying, but downright trite. Seriously? Daddy didn't love you enough, so you became a sociopathic supervillain? Okay. Seems like a good therapist could have helped stop this before it even started. The family certainly had the money.
There is also little to no redemption for Carys...she gets thrown into this white-knuckle search for King Arthur's tomb, and even though she's never cared a whit about King Arthur, she flies into it with reckless abandon, putting everyone she cares about in mortal peril. And nearly everyone who helps her on this hapless quest dies. The hit man had more concern for the victims of this fruitless hunt than she did...she seems to get the news of another devastating death, mopes for a minute or two, then starts focusing her attention elsewhere. She does have a tearful reconciliation with the father who abandoned her as a child, but even that feels hollow, as once she's used up his role in her search, she merely tosses a wave over her shoulder and hops a plane back to the states. Carys' character doesn't develop in the slightest, and everything good that starts to happen to her gets taken away...Dad lives on another continent. New boyfriend is killed. Nicola? Killed. Benefactor? Killed. Boss? Scumbag, but...yep. Killed, along with his wife and children. Ghost monk who guides her quest? Hallucination, and also dead for 1500 years. AND she ultimately loses the manuscripts and treasure to the villain, and in the process, throws a Native American tribe into full-on panic because their entire history and legal protections are now at risk. Nice going, Carys.
Next issue...the romance between Carys and Dafyyd is unsatisfying in so many ways. The romance was a given...you could see that coming miles away. But it was over the top, and I really could have done without all the cheesy sex talk (how many times did ya "do it" with him last night, Carys? I lost count.)...it felt contrived and out of context with the general story. The romance was fine, but could definitely have been handled more tastefully, and less like a Harlequin romance. This book was so formulaic in so many ways, so of COURSE the smart, sexy but emotionally unavailable treasure hunter had to fall for the gorgeous Welsh dive master, right? But it ultimately served no real purpose, especially considering Dafyyd's senseless fate.
And what of the ghost monk?? The book jacket description alludes to a paranormal "guide" to the final resting place of King Arthur, which sounded promising, but alas, there WAS no ghost...just a spore-induced hallucination. Or was he? We never really find out. Oh, and btw, Carys...we know you wanna find KA's tomb, but if you keep breathing in those ancient hallucinogenic spores, your head will really hurt, your guts will fall out, and your kidneys will explode, so maybe don't do that. Okay...sure, whatever.
And why exactly did the Native Americans get involved in the story? It just seemed to take the whole epic scenario in a completely weird, unrelated, and unnecessary direction. And to suggest that white European blood has been "tainting" pure Native American blood, and that they've been going to extreme lengths to hide it, because if anyone finds out they'll lose all their credibility, government protection and aid? That's deeply insulting, culturally insensitive, and REALLY didn't need to be added to this book. At all.
This book was disjointed in so many ways, and annoyingly predictable in others. It just couldn't stick to one trajectory, and seemed to go everywhere at once...health issues that come and go, a boyfriend that shows up at the beginning for no reason (other than to show by example that Carys is a bitch when it comes to her lovers), and is promptly and unceremoniously dumped, a housekeeper who...no, wait...translator of ancient languages who...uh, no, wait...LOVER of the rich benefactor who is barely introduced and then murdered...a hitman questioning his life choices...something about rich Middle Eastern businessmen and assassins pulling Gyles' puppet strings (another unnecessary cultural stereotype)...it just all seems like someone put every suspense novel plot line and red herring into a blender and spat out this book. Add to that the done-to-death flimsy premise of searching for the grave of a mythical figure, and it all just won't hold together.
Everywhere I wanted the story to go, it seemed to make every possible effort NOT to go there. The plot elements fit the formula for this sort of "fast-paced, treasure hunter-turned-unwitting adventurer" type of book, but there were just too many side lines and plot holes, and it just never seemed to get anywhere to any satisfying conclusion. The ending seemed to be setting up for a sequel, and to those who loved this book, you go have fun. I'll be reading something else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2019
Inhaling mold spores from an ancient manuscript can cause:
A slight high and
A ghost monk called Lestinus
A lover of historical manuscripts, Carys Jones loves her job as a dedicated historical book authenticator. It’s an obsession. She is good at what she does although this does not so in her personal life (latter is revealed later in book as significant to character’s back story).
An assignment to authenticate John Harper’s entire collection of manuscripts has been tasked to Carys. JJ, Harper’s son, decides to sell his father’s estate and all content when his father is placed in an asylum and his health worsens.
On visiting Harper, she is told of an important book in his collection that belonged to a monk and his journey with none-other the King Arthur. Carys is apprehensive and immediately pegs Harper’s ranting as pure madness. Upon seeing the historical artifact, she can’t help but get caught up in the monk’s manuscript.
The mystery of the monk’s manuscript has her traveling to Mumbles in Wales, a reuniting and a love interest. The three of them set out to discover the location as mentioned in the monk’s manuscript for King Arthur’s tomb.
Danger follows them seeking to take the manuscripts and possibly the untold treasures buried with King Arthur.
I definitely have mixed feeling about this book. It was a real tomb raider heart pulpatitating story which included solving clues within a manuscript, bad guys, a ghost and a great adventure.
For the most part I really enjoyed the mystery-slash-adventure book, right up until the cave dive. Than my interest slipped and my initial enthusiasm to continue waned.
At first I thought it was just me tiring of the book, however when reading a number of other comments to judge, I saw that many others were experiencing a similar issue. It had a good start, wallaby middle and an abrupt end. Although there is room to continue onto a second follow up book.
**Slight Spoiler Alert**
(You have been warned, please do not continue reading if you would like to read this book).
My heart broke when one of the nicer characters died, Nicola. For all intensive purposes to the story line, I understand the reasoning for her death.
Later my heart shattered as another good character died, the possible love interest. Than the author cuts one’s heart out when yet another dies as well, Harper himself. I at one point wandered if the main character should also be fearing for her own life.
The twist in the story had an interesting take on “possibilities” and solving an ancient mystery. Although, me, not knowing much of the history and theories behind the legend of King Arthur, i cannot account for the story’s claim.
Many reviewers were quiet passionate in their comments regarding the jaw dropping twist in the story which involved native Americans. I am not going to throw my views for this particular review on this topic.
Simply point… It is a fictional story which skims off a possible hypothetical theory. End of story.
Star rating: 3.5
** I received a copy of The Ghost Manuscript by Kris Frieswick via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#TheGhostManuscript #NetGalley
A slight high and
A ghost monk called Lestinus
A lover of historical manuscripts, Carys Jones loves her job as a dedicated historical book authenticator. It’s an obsession. She is good at what she does although this does not so in her personal life (latter is revealed later in book as significant to character’s back story).
An assignment to authenticate John Harper’s entire collection of manuscripts has been tasked to Carys. JJ, Harper’s son, decides to sell his father’s estate and all content when his father is placed in an asylum and his health worsens.
On visiting Harper, she is told of an important book in his collection that belonged to a monk and his journey with none-other the King Arthur. Carys is apprehensive and immediately pegs Harper’s ranting as pure madness. Upon seeing the historical artifact, she can’t help but get caught up in the monk’s manuscript.
The mystery of the monk’s manuscript has her traveling to Mumbles in Wales, a reuniting and a love interest. The three of them set out to discover the location as mentioned in the monk’s manuscript for King Arthur’s tomb.
Danger follows them seeking to take the manuscripts and possibly the untold treasures buried with King Arthur.
I definitely have mixed feeling about this book. It was a real tomb raider heart pulpatitating story which included solving clues within a manuscript, bad guys, a ghost and a great adventure.
For the most part I really enjoyed the mystery-slash-adventure book, right up until the cave dive. Than my interest slipped and my initial enthusiasm to continue waned.
At first I thought it was just me tiring of the book, however when reading a number of other comments to judge, I saw that many others were experiencing a similar issue. It had a good start, wallaby middle and an abrupt end. Although there is room to continue onto a second follow up book.
**Slight Spoiler Alert**
(You have been warned, please do not continue reading if you would like to read this book).
My heart broke when one of the nicer characters died, Nicola. For all intensive purposes to the story line, I understand the reasoning for her death.
Later my heart shattered as another good character died, the possible love interest. Than the author cuts one’s heart out when yet another dies as well, Harper himself. I at one point wandered if the main character should also be fearing for her own life.
The twist in the story had an interesting take on “possibilities” and solving an ancient mystery. Although, me, not knowing much of the history and theories behind the legend of King Arthur, i cannot account for the story’s claim.
Many reviewers were quiet passionate in their comments regarding the jaw dropping twist in the story which involved native Americans. I am not going to throw my views for this particular review on this topic.
Simply point… It is a fictional story which skims off a possible hypothetical theory. End of story.
Star rating: 3.5
** I received a copy of The Ghost Manuscript by Kris Frieswick via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#TheGhostManuscript #NetGalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2019
The title of this book, "Ghost Manuscript," was itself enough to catch my attention. I do not read horror, but I do once in a while enjoy a story with a (hopefully friendly) ghost. And of course, the word "manuscript" just had to lend itself to something historical, didn't it, because what right-minded ghost would care about a contemporary manuscript? Where's the fun in that? Therefore, the title got my attention right away, and after I read the book description, I was hooked.
Ms. Frieswick offers a compelling main character -- rare-book authenticator Carys Jones -- who is emotionally both harder and softer than the typical female protagonist. She is only peripherally involved in her relationships with men, has one good friend to whom she is fiercely loyal, one parent whom she despises, and otherwise lives and breathes for the sight, touch, and smell of the ancient and frequently handwritten page. One gets the impression Ms. Jones could happily spend her life in the company of ancient books and never mind about the world outside.
But the world outside is all too aware of Ms. Jones, especially after she is assigned to authenticate a large Dark Age manuscript collection which contains more than its official catalog listings would suggest, including a secret several people -- both good and bad -- are eager to acquire.
Ms. Frieswick's deep research into her subject is obvious, and after reading this mystery, one can't help but feel better educated on the subject of Dark Age manuscripts. But never do the "dry facts" seem dry, nor do they detract from the pace of the story, which never falters. Indeed, at a point when I thought the book would end, Ms. Frieswick stepped in to tie up loose ends I'd actually forgotten about, so involved was I in other parts of her tale. At the eventual end of the book, I was left with a desire for more and the strong impression that a sequel must be coming.
Ms. Frieswick plants her breadcrumbs well, feeding the reader tantalizing clues that never reveal prematurely but still always play fair so that the careful, attentive reader will find satisfaction when they discover they've guessed correctly. Those who miss the clues will nevertheless feel pleasure and satisfaction in a mystery story well told.
One last note: There is, indeed, a ghost involved in Ms. Frieswick's tale. And yet, it may not be what you expect. Suffice it to say, Ms. Frieswick found an unexpectedly clever way to introduce a perfectly believable, reliable, and essential ghost into her story. Where one might normally expect to have to "play along" with a supernatural theme, Ms. Frieswick, in the end, does not require one to suspend one's disbelief. Her method of "ghosting up" her story -- just one of the ways her research shines through -- was a clever surprise, lending her story a whole new level of believability and possibility.
I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to the sequel I know must come. For the sake of one particular character, I count the days until this occurs!
Ms. Frieswick offers a compelling main character -- rare-book authenticator Carys Jones -- who is emotionally both harder and softer than the typical female protagonist. She is only peripherally involved in her relationships with men, has one good friend to whom she is fiercely loyal, one parent whom she despises, and otherwise lives and breathes for the sight, touch, and smell of the ancient and frequently handwritten page. One gets the impression Ms. Jones could happily spend her life in the company of ancient books and never mind about the world outside.
But the world outside is all too aware of Ms. Jones, especially after she is assigned to authenticate a large Dark Age manuscript collection which contains more than its official catalog listings would suggest, including a secret several people -- both good and bad -- are eager to acquire.
Ms. Frieswick's deep research into her subject is obvious, and after reading this mystery, one can't help but feel better educated on the subject of Dark Age manuscripts. But never do the "dry facts" seem dry, nor do they detract from the pace of the story, which never falters. Indeed, at a point when I thought the book would end, Ms. Frieswick stepped in to tie up loose ends I'd actually forgotten about, so involved was I in other parts of her tale. At the eventual end of the book, I was left with a desire for more and the strong impression that a sequel must be coming.
Ms. Frieswick plants her breadcrumbs well, feeding the reader tantalizing clues that never reveal prematurely but still always play fair so that the careful, attentive reader will find satisfaction when they discover they've guessed correctly. Those who miss the clues will nevertheless feel pleasure and satisfaction in a mystery story well told.
One last note: There is, indeed, a ghost involved in Ms. Frieswick's tale. And yet, it may not be what you expect. Suffice it to say, Ms. Frieswick found an unexpectedly clever way to introduce a perfectly believable, reliable, and essential ghost into her story. Where one might normally expect to have to "play along" with a supernatural theme, Ms. Frieswick, in the end, does not require one to suspend one's disbelief. Her method of "ghosting up" her story -- just one of the ways her research shines through -- was a clever surprise, lending her story a whole new level of believability and possibility.
I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to the sequel I know must come. For the sake of one particular character, I count the days until this occurs!
April 1, 2019
I received a free e-ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Instilling order. . .It is how we humans survive. Create a routine in the face of chaos, terror, madness. It won't save you, but you'll live a little longer with the illusion of normalcy. Sometimes that's all you need to make it through the day. Sometimes, that next day is when the chaos begins to end.
And sometimes not.
I have labored under this theory myself for the last six years or so. It seems so logical. Unfortunately, it's that last caveat statement that keeps holding true.
Mine goes more like this: Keep moving. It's harder to hit a moving target. If you stop, somebody dumps more shit on you. It'll be different shit, but shit is still shit.
If it seems negative to you, be grateful.
Carys, the main character, she'd get it. She understands the value of holing up alone with a good book or a priceless manuscript to protect the heart and mind.
Except it got her in a whole heap of trouble.
I kept thinking you can't really compare this to Indiana Jones except every time I tried to think of a reason why not, I failed.
So I guess you can. Go ahead, publisher. It beats comparing the book to Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, The Woman in the Window.
Again. Plus, it's pretty ballsy to compare a debut novel by an unheard-of author to a classic major motion picture blockbuster starring a Hollywood elite.
I like it.
This was a really fun novel. It kind of went overboard at the end in order to wrap up. I can't tell for sure if that was built-in wiggle room for a sequel. I hope not. I think it needs to be done. Not sure I'd go back for Round Two of this tale but I can definitely say I want to read the author's next book.
I think anybody looking for something a little different should check this one out. It won't change your life, but it will take you out of yours for a little while.
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: Netgalley
Current ebook price: $9.99
Opinion of Price: A little high, but a decent story make for fair value on an unknown quantity
My Cost: $0.00
Instilling order. . .It is how we humans survive. Create a routine in the face of chaos, terror, madness. It won't save you, but you'll live a little longer with the illusion of normalcy. Sometimes that's all you need to make it through the day. Sometimes, that next day is when the chaos begins to end.
And sometimes not.
I have labored under this theory myself for the last six years or so. It seems so logical. Unfortunately, it's that last caveat statement that keeps holding true.
Mine goes more like this: Keep moving. It's harder to hit a moving target. If you stop, somebody dumps more shit on you. It'll be different shit, but shit is still shit.
If it seems negative to you, be grateful.
Carys, the main character, she'd get it. She understands the value of holing up alone with a good book or a priceless manuscript to protect the heart and mind.
Except it got her in a whole heap of trouble.
I kept thinking you can't really compare this to Indiana Jones except every time I tried to think of a reason why not, I failed.
So I guess you can. Go ahead, publisher. It beats comparing the book to Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, The Woman in the Window.
Again. Plus, it's pretty ballsy to compare a debut novel by an unheard-of author to a classic major motion picture blockbuster starring a Hollywood elite.
I like it.
This was a really fun novel. It kind of went overboard at the end in order to wrap up. I can't tell for sure if that was built-in wiggle room for a sequel. I hope not. I think it needs to be done. Not sure I'd go back for Round Two of this tale but I can definitely say I want to read the author's next book.
I think anybody looking for something a little different should check this one out. It won't change your life, but it will take you out of yours for a little while.
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: Netgalley
Current ebook price: $9.99
Opinion of Price: A little high, but a decent story make for fair value on an unknown quantity
My Cost: $0.00
April 12, 2019
I started reading this book on March 24 and I didn’t finish it until April 11. Considering I typically finish a book every 2 to 3 days, nineteen days to finish one felt like an eternity. Something about this book just didn’t click with me and it didn’t hold my interest. I found I had to force myself to read it and that isn’t a good sign for a book. The synopsis really intrigued me though! This should have been right up my alley – adventure, old books, a mystery to solve! But it just fell flat for me in a lot of ways. Here are my pros and cons:
Pros
•Smart, strong female lead character.
•Good idea for an adventure story, but I didn’t feel like it was executed well (see Cons).
Cons
•So many story lines were dropped in this book. I won’t identify them here for fear of spoiling something in case you want to read this book, but there were minor and major storylines just left dangling.
•The major storyline that wasn’t resolved appears to be a purposeful attempt at creating a book series. If this was the case, it actually resulted in making the ending of this book wholly unsatisfying and honestly it didn’t make me interested in reading more.
•The book felt very fragmented to me. The last third of the book, where the story deals with Native Americans, is where it really went off the rails for me regarding storyline/plot.
•The supernatural aspect of the book was weird. It felt like an unnecessary element to the story and it just muddled everything up for me.
•Apparently the author felt she needed a good shock to the story, perhaps to resuscitate interest, because she starting killing characters. Suddenly a bunch of people were getting killed! It wasn’t effective for the story and actually started making me angry. If you are going for a sequel (as I presumed above due to the unresolved ending and other plot holes) then killing off a bunch of your characters doesn’t make a lot of sense!
I really had mixed feelings about this book. I love a good adventure and this one has all the makings of a great one… but it just didn’t quite make it there in my opinion. It almost seems as if there was a little too much going on. The book had potential but just didn’t quite realize it in my opinion.
Thank you NetGalley and Post Hill Press for a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Pros
•Smart, strong female lead character.
•Good idea for an adventure story, but I didn’t feel like it was executed well (see Cons).
Cons
•So many story lines were dropped in this book. I won’t identify them here for fear of spoiling something in case you want to read this book, but there were minor and major storylines just left dangling.
•The major storyline that wasn’t resolved appears to be a purposeful attempt at creating a book series. If this was the case, it actually resulted in making the ending of this book wholly unsatisfying and honestly it didn’t make me interested in reading more.
•The book felt very fragmented to me. The last third of the book, where the story deals with Native Americans, is where it really went off the rails for me regarding storyline/plot.
•The supernatural aspect of the book was weird. It felt like an unnecessary element to the story and it just muddled everything up for me.
•Apparently the author felt she needed a good shock to the story, perhaps to resuscitate interest, because she starting killing characters. Suddenly a bunch of people were getting killed! It wasn’t effective for the story and actually started making me angry. If you are going for a sequel (as I presumed above due to the unresolved ending and other plot holes) then killing off a bunch of your characters doesn’t make a lot of sense!
I really had mixed feelings about this book. I love a good adventure and this one has all the makings of a great one… but it just didn’t quite make it there in my opinion. It almost seems as if there was a little too much going on. The book had potential but just didn’t quite realize it in my opinion.
Thank you NetGalley and Post Hill Press for a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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